2024 Children art contest winning artworks on view from August to November at Chinatown Portsmouth Square Garage Gallery

(SAN FRANCISCO) The winning artworks of 36 young artists at the second annual APA Family Support Services Children art contest are now on public view at the Portsmouth Square Garage gallery in Chinatown until November this year.

The ribbon cutting opening ceremony was held on August 3 at the gallery which was created in recent years under the leadership of a newly-appointed Board of Directors. The gallery is located on the street level of the garage's main entrance on Kearny Street.

The Board approved removing several parking spaces to transform the area into a gallery during the pandemic to showcase artworks and better serve the community.

The children art contest was first held in 2023 by the non-profit APA Family Support Services which serves over 8,000 underserved children and families annually across the Bay Area.

The 2024 Children's Art Contest was co-hosted by APA Family Support Services and Happy Picasso Art Studio. "Tradition Meets Modernity" was the theme of this year's contest. Participants were encouraged to explore the vibrant intersection between their heritage and contemporary influences in their artworks.

36 winners between the ages of 4 to 16 competing in three age groups were announced in May to celebrate the May Heritage Month.

Among the winners, Liam Xie, age 10 and a new immigrant from China, won in the contest as the overall champion.

Xie is a resident of San Francisco Chinatown and immigrated from China 3 years ago. Xie loves drawing since he was a younger child inspired by his mother who is an artist and art teacher.

In Xie's winning painting, he drew the east and west mixed culture of Chinatown where he resides. The Central Subway, red lanterns, a dragon, western musicians, a Chinese opera singer, ancient traditional Chinese buildings, and the Chinatown Gate standing next to the high rise buildings in the Financial District could be seen in Xie's artwork.

The exhibition will open for public view until November 30.

Fanny Lam, Executive Director of APA Family Support Services, welcomed everyone to come to the Portsmouth Square Garage and view all the winning artworks.

Rose Chung, President of the Board of Directors at Portsmouth Square Garage, said the entire board has been committed to improving the service for customers and visitors of Chinatown and supporting the community.